Motive still unclear as Nederland man is charged in his mother’s murder

A counselor manning the Spindletop Center crisis hotline listened as Hollie Arredondo told him her son was trying to kick in the door of her Nederland apartment. Then, after a crash the counselor thought to be the door finally giving way, the connection was abruptly severed.

Officers would later arrest 26-year-old Nederland resident Joseph Garrett Arredondo on Wednesday, April 10, in relation to the homicide of his mother, Hollie Ann Arredondo, according to a press release from the Nederland Police Department.

Nederland Police Chief Darrell Bush said in an interview that NPD received a call at approximately 5:09 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, from the Spindletop Center counselor. Before calling police, the man looked up the caller’s address in his database, apparently having information on file for her. He gave police the address 191 Hill Terrace, but Chief Bush said when they arrived there, there was no disturbance. Police were able to ascertain the correct address for Hollie Arredondo was 1516 S. 27th Street in Nederland, the Hillcrest Apartments, and headed toward the residence.

“We arrived there,” Chief Bush said. “I saw and recognized the suspect, Joseph Arredondo, standing out in the parking lot. They (officers) approached him, talked to him, and detained him. While they were speaking with him, they observed that the back door of the apartment was standing open and appeared to have been broken into. One of the officers detained Mr. Arredondo while the other entered the premises. He found Ms. Arredondo deceased on the floor from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. At that time, Mr. Arredondo was taken into custody. Upon searching him, they discovered a 9mm pistol in his pants.”

Chief Bush said seven gunshots were fired inside the house, six of those apparently striking Hollie Arredondo and killing her, according to preliminary autopsy results from the morning of Thursday, April 11. No motive has been ascertained, and Bush said the suspect is not cooperating. He said he is not able to speculate regarding any potential mental illness from which Joseph Arredondo may have suffered or why Hollie Arredondo called the Spindletop Center rather than police. Joseph Arredondo is currently being held in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on a $2 million bond, and capital murder charges were filed against him for the killing of his mother, according to Chief Bush.

The deceased’s neighbors at the Hillcrest Apartments in Nederland said the victim’s son had a history of mental illness, one saying that word around the complex was the young man also had a drug problem. Police were not able to confirm that information, and Chief Bush said the investigation is complete.

“He is still in jail on a $2 million bond,” Bush said Tuesday, April 16. “Now it’s in the hands of the district attorney.”

Sharon Brooks can be reached at (409) 832-1400, ext. 241, or by e-mail at sharon [at] theexaminer [dot] com.

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